The following electives will be offered for the Upper School, which includes 7th through 10th grade, for the current school year:
General Electives
Critical Thinking
Course ID: GECRIT-700
This highly recommended course will teach your students how to think by using different problem solving skills. Students will arm themselves with tools to solve thinking problems such as, when it is dumb to argue, how to use the scientific method, five rules of brainstorming, who has a reason to lie, how to analyze opposing viewpoints, how to analyze evidence and sources, how to list reasons why you believe something. God gave us the ability to think critically and we believe we can sharpen these skills in order to teach students to always filter things through the lens of the scripture.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Enrolled as an 7th grade student.
Logic I
Course ID: GELOGI-100
Logic, a highly recommended, rigorous course will teach your students how to think by using different problem solving skills. Logic is the art of reasoning well. In this class, students will lay the proper foundations of reasoning from the Western tradition. Logic has been a foundational subject of study from the time of Aristotle to the present and has never been more necessary than in our tangled and convoluted present age. This course will train students in the crucial skills of Formal Logic such as defining terms, recognizing basic statement types, and arguing within syllogisms, as well as the more analytical skills necessary for Informal Logic. This course requires the student to complete exercises daily and to read the chapters prior to attending class. Logic, like Critical Thinking in the lower grades, gives students a framework that will translate into success in nearly every subject they will study throughout their academic careers. Logic is a prerequisite to Rhetoric.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Enrolled as an 8th or 9th grade student, 8th graders may receive high school credit oft this course, please see credit requirements above.
Rhetoric: The Art of Writing and Speaking Persuasively
Course ID: GERHET-100
Rhetoric is a required course if pursuing a distinguished diploma from Legacy. Rhetoric is the art of writing and speaking persuasively. To the ancients, rhetoric was the crowning intellectual discipline. In this course students will read, watch, analyze and create pieces of persuasion as well as learn to formulate arguments. Knowing how to defend your faith is a key discipline to the student preparing to leave for college.
Parent Role: Guide for Independent Study
Course Prerequisites: Enrolled as an 11th or 12th grade student, Logic Course is a prerequisite or instructor approval.
Basic Computer Applications
Course ID: GEKEYB-7
This highly recommended course will deliver hands-on learning in the following key skill areas according to age-level appropriateness: Keyboarding – develop speed, efficiency and correct finger placement, Basic Computer Operations – use Control Panel, open, close, adjust windows, open files from different drives, desk accessories, installing, registering programs, legal/safety issues, Word Processing –learn advanced word processing skills, including how to create a multi-columnar document, add Headers and Footers, insert graphic images, use bullets and numbers and use and set tab and indent markers.
Computer Applications – 9th-12th Grade
Course ID: GECOMP-100
Teachers deliver hands-on learning in the following key skill areas according to age-level appropriateness: Keyboarding – develop speed, efficiency and correct finger placement, Basic Computer Operations – use Control Panel, open, close, adjust windows, open files from different drives, desk accessories, installing, registering programs, legal/safety issues, Word Processing –learn advanced word processing skills, including how to create a multi-columnar document, add Headers and Footers, insert graphic images, use bullets and numbers and use and set tab and indent markers, Graphic Design- learn to use the graphic artist’s tools in Adobe® Photoshop® Elements 4.0 to create unique digital images. Use a variety of selection and navigation tools plus filters, text masks and retouching tools, Spreadsheets- learn how to create a spreadsheet. Format a spreadsheet, use formulas to calculate data and create graphs to display information. Create an original spreadsheet.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: 9th – 12th Grade status
Publications I
Course ID: GEPUBL-100
Publications The class will cover the basics of journalistic writing, copy editing, and publication of the school newspaper (Paws For Thought), yearbook (The Lair), and web-based content for Lions Online (www.legacypca.org). The class will also cover broadcast journalism, including production of video newscasts and podcasts. Each student will research and write stories, conduct interviews, an take photos to support their submissions. Students will be expected to develop multiple story ideas throughout the course of the semester, in addition to carrying out the tasks of researching and writing. Students will be asked to support their fellow staff members, cooperate with the instructor, and use all equipment (computers, cameras, etc.) responsibly. Students must be mature, act in a Christian manner, and work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team. Some work can be completed in class, though there will be LPCA events that students must cover during or after school, or even on weekends.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Successful completion of previous course in the sequence during the preceding school year or satisfactory performance on a diagnostic placement test.
Publications II
Course ID: GEPUBL-200
Publications The class will cover the advanced techniques journalistic writing, copy editing, and publication of the school newspaper (Paws For Thought), yearbook (The Lair), and web-based content for Lions Online (www.legacypca.org). The class will also cover broadcast journalism, including production of video newscasts and podcasts. Each student will research and write stories, conduct interviews, an take photos to support their submissions. Students will be expected to develop multiple story ideas throughout the course of the semester, in addition to carrying out the tasks of researching and writing. Students will be asked to support their fellow staff members, cooperate with the instructor, and use all equipment (computers, cameras, etc.) responsibly. Students must be mature, act in a Christian manner, and work efficiently, both independently and as part of a team. Some work can be completed in class, though there will be LPCA events that students must cover during or after school, or even on weekends.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Successful completion of previous course in the sequence, Publications I, during the preceding school year or satisfactory performance on a diagnostic placement test. 8th graders may receive high school credit oft this course, please see credit requirements above.
Physical Education
Course ID: GEPE-100
Physical Education student learn the importance of teamwork through organized games and begin to learn the fundamentals of such team sports. Students further their knowledge in fitness and movement skills. They also learn about individual conditioning and its value to good health. Students should expect some physical contact in this class.
Speech
Speech I
Course ID: SPCH-100
Speech is a required, one year course meeting one hour per week to be taken if pursuing a diploma from Legacy. Legacy will partner with Institute for Cultural Communicators for the Speech I class. The mission of the Institute for Cultural Communicators is to shape culture through authentic communication and equip Christian students with both the competence and character they need to influence culture for Christ.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Enrolled as at least a 9th grade student, Logic Course is a prerequisite or instructor approval.
Fine Arts Courses
Art I
Course ID: FAART-100
Art students will be introduced to the fundamentals of art. They will explore art appreciation by identifying how art functions and the role it plays in our environment, both at home and elsewhere. Art history at this level will be more in-depth than at the elementary level. Students will begin to do life drawing studies of human anatomy, in pencils and charcoal. They will also work in watercolors, oil pastels and acrylics. Art work will be done in both 2-Dimensional and 3- Dimensional forms on paper, canvas, ceramics and printmaking, to name a few. Some supplies will be provided by student.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Enrolled as an 9th or 10th grade student, Logic Course is a prerequisite or instructor approval.
Foreign Language Courses
Intro Spanish IA (7th Grade only)
Course ID: FLSPAN-IA
Spanish 1A is a year-long course for Junior High students designed to cover only the contents of the first semester of the regular Spanish 1 course (see Spanish 1 course description). The goal of this course is to expose the Junior High student to Spanish earlier in order to make possible the taking of higher levels of Spanish in the upper years of high school.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: 7th grade students should have a instructor recommendation in order to take this class in 7th grade.
Intro Spanish IB (8th Grade only)
Course ID: FLSPAN-IB
After taking SPanish IA, Spanish IB is a year-long course for Junior High students designed to cover only the contents of the second semester of the regular Spanish 1 course (see Spanish 1 course description). The goal of this course is to expose the Junior High student to Spanish earlier in order to make possible the taking of higher levels of Spanish in the upper years of high school.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Spanish IA in 7th grade
Spanish I
Course ID: FLSPAN-100
The Spanish I course serves as a comprehensive introduction to the Spanish language and Latin culture. Students will learn through the four basic language skills—reading, listening (comprehension), writing and speaking. In addition, each chapter studied includes a specific aspect of culture to familiarize the student with everyday hispanic life. Students will be expected to master an extensive vocabulary; grammar points including present, immediate future and completed past tenses; phonetic pronunciation; sentence formulation (both oral and written) and familiarization with culture.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Intro Spanish – 8th graders may receive Upper School credit for this class.
Spanish II
Course ID: FLSPAN-200
The Spanish II course serves as a continuation of exposure to the Spanish language and Latin culture. Students will continue through the four basic language skills—reading, listening (comprehension), writing and speaking. In addition, each chapter studied includes a specific aspect of culture to familiarize the student with everyday hispanic life. Students will be expected to master an extensive vocabulary; grammar points including present, immediate future and completed past tenses; phonetic pronunciation; sentence formulation (both oral and written) and familiarization with culture.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Spanish IA and Spanish IB or Spanish I
Spanish III
Course ID: FLSPAN-300
The Spanish III course serves as continuation of exposure to the Spanish language and Latin culture. Students will continue through the four basic language skills—reading, listening (comprehension), writing and speaking. In addition, each chapter studied includes a specific aspect of culture to familiarize the student with everyday hispanic life. Students will be expected to master an extensive vocabulary; grammar points including present, immediate future and completed past tenses; phonetic pronunciation; sentence formulation (both oral and written) and familiarization with culture.
Parent Role: Guide for Dependent Study
Course Prerequisites: Spanish IA and Spanish IB or Spanish I and Spanish II
Teacher Assisted Study Hall
TASH – Teacher Assisted Study Hall
Course ID: TASH-100
Teacher Assisted Study Hall is a study period designed for students to study when they have an open period between classes for which they are registered. Study Hall will be quiet. No games, headphones, or talking will be permitted. Students must come with work to do or something to read. A teacher will preside over study hall and attendance will be taken at the start of each period just like in any class. The teacher will be available to assist students with their assignments and answer questions as needed.
Parent Role: None
Course Prerequisites: None
